The History of Glass
2008-08-04

The History of Glass

(A)Glass is thought to have been created during the Bronze Age. Glass is an inorganic solid material that is usually clear or translucent with different colors. It is hard, brittle, and stands up to the effects of wind, rain or sun. Glass has been used for various kinds of bottles and utensils, mirrors, windows and more. It is thought to have been first created around 3000 BC, during the Bronze Age. Egyptian glass beads date back to about 2500 BC. Glass: in Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Solid material, typically a mix of inorganic compounds, usually transparent or translucent, hard, brittle, and impervious to the natural elements ("vitreous properties"). It is made by cooling molten ingredients fast enough so no visible crystals form. A poor conductor of heat and electricity, glass takes on colors when certain metal oxides are included in the mix. Most glass breaks easily. Obsidian is a naturally occurring glass. Everyday glass (soda-lime or soda-lime-silica) is made of silica (silicon dioxide), soda (sodium carbonate), and limestone (calcium carbonate), with magnesia (magnesium oxide) for sheet glass or alumina (aluminum oxide) for bottle glass. Fused silica is an excellent glass but expensive because of pure silica's very high melting point. Borosilicate glass (e.g., Pyrex) is used for cookware and laboratory glassware because it expands very little when heated. Lead crystal is used for fine tableware. It has a heavy feel because of its lead oxide content and a sparkle due to its high refraction index. Even more specialized glasses include optical, photosensitive, metallic, and fibre-optic. Since glass has no sharp melting point, most types can be shaped while hot and plastic by many techniques, mostly blowing or molding.Glass always acts an important role, no mater in the history or in today’s life, even in the future. As R. W. Douglas and S. Frank stated in their book "A History of Glassmaking" in 1972 "Life without glass is difficult to imagine; glass windows allow light from the sun to brighten our buildings, but they also help keep our rooms warm in winter; glass is essential for the provision of convenient artificial lights and as a component in the cameras, cine - projectors and television sets which we use during our leisure time. It provides us with fine drinking glasses and robust cooking utensils, and with containers for foods and liquids of all kinds. This hard, inert, transparent material is made by heating together a mixture of materials such as sand, limestone, and soda. At a sufficiently high temperature a white heat of about 1400-1500°C just below, the melting point of iron, these materials react to form a liquid. When this liquid is taken from the furnace it gets stiffer and stiffer as it cools until at about 500°C it has become as solid as the glass we are familiar with in our windows or on our tables". (B)Different types of glass: There are several different types of glass in use, each with a different chemical composition. Common glass contains 70 % SiO2, 15 % sodium oxide (Na2O) and 10% calcium oxide (CaO) and 5% of other oxides. It is known as soda-lime g1ass. It is used for windows and glass bottles.Laboratory glassware and ovenware for cooking is made of a different type of glass which is more resistant to chemicals, scratches and heat. It is known as borosilicate glass and it contains 80 % Si02 and 13 % boric oxide (B2O3) and 7% other oxides. Pyrex is a trade name for one brand of borosilicate glass. Lead crystal glass, as made by Waterford Crystal, contains a large amount of lead oxide (PbO) which gives the glass its brilliance. By putting in small amount of metal oxides we can give glass a range of colors. The brown glass used for beer bottles results from iron in the sand used to make the glass. To get colorless glass specially pure sand must be used and a decolorize like manganese dioxide (MnO2 is added to oxidize any iron present and remove its color. Glass can be made into glass fiber used for insulation and making boats etc. -- this glass contains aluminum oxide, Al2O3, or into special optical fibers which are now being used for communication, using light instead of electrons to carry the message. Glass may be an old material but it still has many surprises to offer and it is still indispensable in our modern world.

(C)Some uses of glass are 1. Windows; 2. Containers - bottles and jars. Glass fiber; 3. Laboratory glass wart;4. Cooking utensils; 5. Light bulbs;6. Optical fiber; 7. TV tubes;8. Optical instruments; 9. And some others more.

(D)Important dates in the History of Glass ~4500 B.C. to 3000 B.C. Glass first used in Egypt and Mesopotamia;~1500 B.C. First glass vessels made in Egypt;~200 B.C. Glass blowing invented in the near East; ~600 A.D. Stained glass windows introduced in Constantinople; 1674 A.D. Lead crystal invented by George Ravens croft in England; 1688 A.D. Cast plate glass-France; 1690 A.D. First glassworks in Ireland; 1827 A.D. Glass pressed into moulds-U.S.A. ;1851 A.D. Crystal Palace built in London-first prefabricated building of iron and glass; 1874 A.D. Glass toughened by oil quenching -France; 1886 A.D. First semi-automated bottle maker -England; 1903 A.D. First automatic bottle making machine invented by Michael Owens, an Irishman, in the U.S.A. ;1903 A.D. Chance discovery of laminated glass by Benedictus in France; 1915 A.D. Invention of borosilicate glass in the U.S.A. ;1937 A.D. Photosensitive glass invented by Dalton in the U.S.A. ;1957 A.D. Glass ceramic made by accident by Stookey in the U.S.A. ;1959 A.D. Float glass process for plate glass introduced by Pilkingtons in the U.K. ;Today's Glass Block Windows - Security, Privacy and Style 

Glass block windows today are no longer simply the clear, colorless, functional cubes of the block of yesteryear. As Emeril Lagasse would say these blocks have kicked it up a notch! Yes, the benefits of the product's past still hold true -increased security and hard to break, greater energy efficiency than the windows they're replacing, and increased privacy. Contemporary block windows take it to the next level - they're cooler, hipper, safer, easier to install, and environmentally friendly. Let's take a peek at what's new:

(A)Hot Styles and Patterns for your windows Boring is out, cool is in! Why go colorless when you can match the hottest design colors today. With the new wave of blocks color match (or contrast) your blocks to your tiles, your walls, your furniture, whatever you desire. Put a stripe of color in a clear wall, or just randomly put some color blocks into a wall for style and pop. In addition to colors there are now artistically & decorative colored glass blocks with murals to stretch your imagination. There are over 60 standard murals you can put into windows, walls or custom design a scene for your exact tastes and interests. Some of the predesigned murals include: (a) Places - Manhattan, Acropolis, Santori, and Rome. (b) Flowers - Lilies, Iris, Tulips, & Hibiscus. (c) Interests - Golf, other sports. (d) Famous artists' - Warhol, Van Gogh, Miro, Michelangelo, Picasso. Cool new patterns are available in the blocks and also bevels are cut onto the blocks with the new products manufactured today. Pittsburgh Corning has come out with Bevel Series line where numerous architectural designs can really put a distinctive edge on your windows and walls. There is a pattern which can remind of you of the sea, called Seascapes from Pittsburgh Corning or Bubble from Mulia. Also there is a Focus pattern block with a circle in the center - very contemporary & hot! Architects, designers, and homeowners alike will have fun making unique windows and walls with these products.

(B)Fire Resistance and Security to Keep You Safe The thickness of blocks (they are can range from approximately 2" to 4" thick depending on the size and style) have always been recognized as an excellent deterrent to minimize break-ins, but the following new features make today's blocks even more secure and fire resistant. (a) 60 minute and 90 minute fire rated security glass blocks - Pittsburgh Corning and Mulia both make fire rated window assemblies that allow a homeowner, commercial developer or home builder the option to meet fire codes while simultaneously providing light and privacy to those occupying the buildings and homes. If you're looking to get light into multi family housing units, tight lots for new homes, stairwells, or corridors the 60 or 90 minute fire-rated blocks might be the design answer for you. (b) Vistabrik security glass blocks for safety - If you're looking for the ultimate in window security the Vistabrik product from Pittsburgh Corning is for you. This product is 3" of solid glass, graffiti resistant, and excellent used in either public building or retail spaces where security is of the utmost concern - heavy blocks, incredibly hard to break. 

(C)Easier to Install Glass Block Windows and Better for the Environment Whether you're looking to install blocks in a new home, commercial building, or remodeling an existing space the systems and processes have never been easier. Here are some basic installation recommendations to consider: (a) Upper floor windows or wood framed openings - For frame openings consider the Vinyl Wrap Glass Block window system in new construction or remodeling projects. This product, which is available either with or without an integral nailing fin, installs just like a traditional vinyl window and is siliconed together for an all glass look. Some of the more popular uses have been above a soaking or Jacuzzi tub in a bathroom, over a shower surround in a smaller bathroom, garage windows, walk in closet windows, and in stairwells. (b) Improve health concerns, increase ventilation, and improve the environment - with this product you don't have to block up the entire window system. In residential and commercial application the use of vinyl ventilation products has become quite common. Standard air vents can be used in any location of the window and there are even exhaust fans, dryer vent options, and removable sash windows. Since glass blocks are extremely long lasting and durable they are a green friendly product as well. The glass block windows of today truly are cooler, more secure and safer, and easier and more flexible to use than ever before. 

 

 

 

Now, glass products have become necessary vital commodities, they will be more fashionable, healthy and convenient as the developing society.